System of train control for electric motors.



Patented May 29, 1900. r. E. CASE. I

SYSTEM OF TRAIN CONTROL FDR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

(Appliaticn flied Apr. 12, 1898.)

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SYSTEM OF TRAIN CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

(Application filed Apr. 12, 1898.)

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' UNITED STATES" PATENT GEErcIE.

FRANK E. CASE, or SCIIENEOTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGN'OR 'ro THE eENERAnELECTRIC COMPANY, on NEW roan.

(SYSTEM OF TRA|N CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC Morons.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,452, dated May 29,1900. Application filed April 12 1898. Serial No. 677,313. (No model.)

To to whom it 77mg concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK E. CASE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady,'county of Schenectady, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Train Controlfor Electric Motors, (Case N o. 690,) of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates particularly to systems IQ of train control forelectric motors in which a number of motor-cars are united to form atrain or a portion of a train, each motor-car being itself a completeunitthat is to say, provided with a motor or motors and a con- 1 5troller for regulating their operation. In systems of this kind it ispreferable to control all the motors from a single point, so thatchanges in all the motor-circuits may be made simultaneously andcorrespondingly. It has been proposed to provide each controller with asmall pilot-motor or other electrically-controlled device and to controlthe action of such device by means of a master-controller from aselected point on the train, the controlling-current being derived fromthe main source of supply. This arrangement is not entirelysatisfactory, for if the source of supply fails for any cause thecontrollers are left in their last running position, and when thecircuit is again established the motors, now

at a standstill or running slowly, are subjected to a potentialdepending upon the position which the controller last occupied. This maybe very injurious to the motors, as well as 3 5 disagreeable to thepassengers.

My invention has for one of its objects to provide in a train system ofcontrol where all the motors are controlled from a selected point asource of energy so arranged that upon any 0 failure of the currentsupplied to the motors it will be operatively connected to the system insuch manner that the motor-controllers may be returned to the zeroposition or moved to any desired position. I preferably employ a storagebattery as my separate source of supply; and a further object ofmyinvention is to provide means for regulating the charging of thestorage battery.

The invention is shown and described in connection with a train system,since it has great utilityin that connection; butitis also tail.

applicable for use with a great many other kinds of systems, and I aimto embrace such a use in the claims. I

In the accompanying drawings,- which show 5 5 various embodiments of myinvention, Figure 1 is a diagram of a three-car train. Fig. 2 is adiagram of the circuit connections. Fig. 3

is a detail view of the means employed to close the battery-circuit.Fig. etisadiagram- 6o matic View illustrating a slight modification.Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrams of motor and battery combinations, and Figs.7 and 8 show modifications of the battery connections.

In Fig. 1 are shown three vehicles A, B, and O, mechanically unitedreform a train, each vehicle being provided with motors D,

a controller E, a contact device F, a mastercontroller G, and a storagebattery K. In the particular form illustrated pilot-motors H, controlledby means of master-switches G, are mechanically connected to thecontrollers; but my invention is equally applicable to othermaster-controller systemsas, for example,to that shown in my priorapplication, 7 5 Serial No. 671,994, filed in the Patent Office February23, 1898. In order to simplify the arrangement of wiring and to avoidpassing, heavy currents through the train, the motors of each car aresupplied with current by the contact device mounted on that car. Sincethe source of supply of an electric-railway system is liable tointerruption from various causes and since it is injurious to thepropelling-motors to subject them to the full or partial line potentialwhen they are ata standstill or slowly moving, it is necessary to returnthe motor-controllers to their off position as soon as the source ofsupply fails. To accomplish this, I propose to operate the piloto motorsby means of current received from the main source of supply, togetherwith current received from a separate source of energy, as

a storage battery, for example. By this arrangement the controllersmaybe actuated in any desired manner, irrespective of the condition ofthe main source of supply.

In Fig. 2 the circuits are illustrated in de As this invention does notrelate to the particular kind of controller employed for regulating themotors, the controller has been illustrated in a conventional manneronly, as

shown at E. The master-switch G is provided with a single row of brushesG, arranged to engage with the contacts situated on each side thereof.For simplicity only a single set of contacts is shown on each side ofthe brushes; but it is to be understood that any number of contacts,resistance or otherwise, may be employed. The support for the contactsis in dotted lines. The contacts on switch G are so arranged that whenthe vertical row of brushes Gr rest on the contacts situated at the leftcurrent is supplied to the pilot-motors H in a manner to cause them torotate in one direction, and when brushes Gr rest on the contacts at theright in a manner to cause them to rotate in' the opposite direction.The pilot-motors are shown in this case as being series wound; but anyother kind of winding may be employed if desired.

In circuit between the source of supply and the storage battery K is anautomatic circuitbreaker I, comprising fixed and moving contaets, themoving contact 1 being secured to the upper end of a toggle 1 A spring Iis employed to open the circuit as soon as the locking-detent I isreleased by the armature J. The armature J is controlled by a magnet J',which is connected in shunt around the storage battery K. As long as thecharge in the battery is below normal the magnet J will not affect thearmature; but as soon as the charge in the battery becomes such as tocause the Voltage to rise to a predetermined amount the armature will beattracted and unlock the circuit breaker, which will be opened by thespring 1.

One terminal of the battery is connected to the source of supply througha resistance R, which is employed to reduce the potential of thecharging-circuit, and the other terminal is grounded by wire 5. All thepilot-motors and master-switches on the train are connected to cable Land are in multiple with each other, so that when the circuits of onemotor are completed in a particular manner the circuits of the othermotors are correspondingly affected. This controlling may beaccomplished by any one of the masterswitches. All of the masterswitchesare shown as being mounted on motor-cars, but if the train is made up ofmotor and trail cars, which are arranged in any desired relation, thetrail-cars may be provided with masterswitches, and the controllingaccomplished from any one of these switches.

Assuming that it is desired to drive the pilot-motors in a forwarddirection, the contacts on the left of the master-switch are moved intoengagement with the stationary row of brushes G and the circuit is asfollows: From contact h through the circuitbreaker I, resistance R tobrush 1, to contact 1, to wire 1, through the armatures of thepilot-motors on the train in multiple to wire 2, to brush 2", to contact2, to brush 3, to wire 3, through the field-magnet coils of the.pilotmotors to wire t, and to ground by wire 5. If the potential of thesupply-circuit is normal, a certain amount of current will pass fromcontact-shoe F through circuit-breaker I, resistance R, storage batteryK, wire 5 to ground and charge the battery. It the number ofpilot-motors or other electrically-actuated devices on the train issuffieient to cause a drop in the line potential the battery K willassist the line-eurrent to operate them. The circuits are arranged asshown in Fig. 5.

The pilot-motors being mechanically connected to the motor-controllers,the latter will change the circuit of the motors in any desired manner.To stop the pilot-motors, the contacts are returned to the positionshown, and to reverse the motors in order to return the controllers E totheir off position the contacts on the right are brought into engagementwith the brushes. If for any reason the supply of current from contact Ffails, the battery K will be in operative connection with the circuit,and by moving the masterswitch G the action of the pilot-motors may becontrolled in the manner above described. It will be seen that thepilot-motors are controlled by switch G whether the current is suppliedby contact F or battery K.

In order to maintain the storage battery charged to a predetermineddegree and'this without requiring attention on the part of themotorman,the circuit-breaker I is so arranged with respect to themaster-switch that each time the latter is closed the battery-chargingcircuit is also closed. Mounted on shaft G of the switch G is a cam G soarranged that when switch-handle G is moved to either side of a centralposition it will move lever I and close the circuit between the mainsource of supply and the battery K. If when this action takes place thebattery is not charged to its normal capacity, the armature J will be ina position to engage the latch I and hold the circuit-breaker closed;but if the battery is charged to its normal degree the coil J willattract the armature and prevent it from looking the circuit-breaker inplace when the switch-handle G is returned to the off position. Thisarrangement is particularly desirable where the strength of the storagebattery has been somewhat decreased by use and the car upon which it islocated is returned to the car-barn. \Vith the arrangement shown, it"the charge in the battery is below normal, the circuit will remainclosed until the battery has been charged to its proper degree, afterwhich the circuit will be automatically interrupted. This arrangementlargely decreases the amount of care necessary, for the charging of thebatteries is automatically accomplished.

In Fig. 4; I have shown a slight modification of my invention, in whichthe current for driving the pilot-motors is normally obtained entirelyfrom the main source of supply. A battery K is provided, which isconnected in series with the main circuit through the pilotmotors, andin this capacity acts as an addi- IIO tional resistance to the passageof current. In series with the lead from the contact-shoe F is a magnetJ, which under normal conditions attracts the switch arm ofcircuitbreaker I and keeps open the circuit between battery K and theground-wire 5. A spring I is provided for closing the circuit-breakerwhen for any reason the current from the main source of supply fails. Aresistance R is employed to cut down the current which passes throughthe pilot-motors. For convenience of illustration I have only shown onepilot-motor, which is geared to a motorcontroller E in any desiredmanner; but it is to be understood that there are or may be a number ofthese motor-controllers, each provided with a pilot-motor. In the normaloperation of the system current enters from contact F. The main currentpasses to the motor-controller E and the propelling-motors by wire 5;but a portion flows to the pilotmotors by the following path: through manet-coil J, resistance R, storage battery K to brush 1, and if thebrushes be in engagement with the contacts now situated on the right tocontact 1, by cross connection to contact 3, brush 2", wire 4, throughthe armatures of all the pilot motors in multiple, wire 3 to brush 1, tocontact 2, by cross connection to contact 4, to brush 3, wire 2, andthrough the fields of the pilot-motors to wire 1 and wire 5 to ground.

in Fig. 6. For convenience only one motor is shown; but it is to beunderstood that the other motors may be connected in multiple therewith.

Assuming that for any reason the source of supply from the contact Ffails, coil J will be deenergized and the circuit-breaker I closed.

by means of spring I and the circuit will be from the positive side ofthe battery to circuit-breaker I, wire l, through the fields of thepilot-motors in multiple to wire 2 to brush 3, and if it is desired toreverse the direction of the motors from that previously described tocontact to brush 2, thence through the armatures of the pilot-motors inmultiple to wire 3, to brush 1, to contact 1, to brush 1, to thenegative side of the battery. It willbe seen that the current passesthrough the field and armatu res of the pilot-motors in an oppositedirection to that previously described; but as the direction of currentthrough both field and armatures is reversed it does not affect thedirection of rotation, that being governed entirely by the contacts onthe master-switch G.

In Fig. 6 is shown a diagram of the battery and motor circuits, and Ihave indicated in dotted lines the circuit-breaker I in the positionwhich it occupies when the battery K is employed for driving thepilot-motors.

The invention has been shown and described in connection with pilotmotors which are arranged to operate the controllers for thepropelling-motors; but it is evident The arrangement of circuits justdescribed is the same as that shown that othert'orms of electricaldevices may be employed to actuate the controllers, and I aim to embracesuch an arrangement in the claims.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown improved arrangements for charging andconnecting the storage batteries K. Referring more particularly to Fig.7, the battery K is connected across the circuit from thesupplyconductor F to the return-wire 5, and in series with the batteryis a resistance R, which regulates the current flowing therein. Thisresistance also acts under normal conditions to cut down the voltage ofthe current supplied to the storage battery. For example, with a fivehundred volt circuit I may use a storage battery K of one hundred andtwenty-five volts. At a point between the battery and resistance isconnected a wire 6, which supplies current to one or more translatingdevices 7 in multiple with the storage battery K. These translatingdevices may be of any desired character, but may, if desired, comprisetwo pilot-motors or other controller-actuating means, whatever they maybe. When only a small current is being taken by the translating devices7, current will flow through the resistance R from the wire F and willcharge battery K. Whatever current may be needed by the translat ingdevices will be supplied in 'multiple with the battery. It now thetranslating devices 7 begin to take a large amount of current, it isobvious that the storage battery.

will begin to discharge and will thus take its share of the load.siderable amount of current will flow through the resistance R to thesetranslating devices. It will be obvious that when a large current flowsthrough the resistance R to the translating devices 7 the drop in theresistance will become excessive, so that in practice all,

or nearly all, of the current supplied will be In orsupplied from thestorage battery K. der to avoid this, I arrange other resistances R R sothat when the translating devices 7 begin to take any considerableload-these resistances are cut in in multiple with the resistance R. Iaccomplish this result by placing a solenoid 9 in series with the wire 6and causing this solenoid to attract the armature 10 of the switch 8against the action .of the spring 11.

'With this arrangement when the current in thewire 6 rises to a certainpredetermined amount resistance R will be cut in in multiple withresistance R, so that energy can be supplied to the translating devicewith considerable economy. One

or more additional resistances, .as R may also be provided, withswitches so proportioned and adjusted that the more current is taken onthe wire 6 the greater will be thenumber of resistances cut in inmultiple with the resistance R, or, in other words,the greater will bethe conductivity of the circuit from the supplywire F to the wire 6. Forthe sake of simplicity only three sections of re-- At the same time acon-- sistance have been shown; but it is obvious that any numbcrofsections may be employed, each with an automatic switch for cutting theminto and out of circuit, and that the springs for the switches may havethe same or different adjustments.

In order to protect the battery against accidental discharge through thepropellingmotors, 850., in case the main-line current is interrupted forany reason, a circuit-breaker 14E is provided for controlling thecircuit through the resistance and battery. The circuit-breaker isprovided with a shunt-coil, which is connected across the mains, andwill when the main-line voltage is above a certain point hold the switchclosed; but as soon as the voltage decreases the spring opens the switchand interrupts the circuit at this point. By this arrangement it will beseen that the battery K, on account of its only being called upon toperform a limited amount of work, may be of small capacity; but at thesame time, in the event of the trolley-circuit being interrupted, asupply of energy is always at hand and in operative condition to performany useful workas, for example, for actuating the motor controller orcontrollers.

In Fig. 8 is shown a slight modification of the arrangement shown inFig. 7, the essential difference being that two separate circuits 12 and13 are provided, each having an electromagnetic switch 8 for cutting itinto and out of circuit. A single circuit-breaker 14, controlled by thecoil in shunt to the line, serves for both of these circuits. Thiscircuit-breaker is similar to the circuit-breaker 14 of Fig. 7.- Inmultiple with the battery K is a set of translating devices 12, suppliedfrom the wire 6. In series with this wire 6 is a solenoid 9, acting on aswitch 8, which switch controls the resistance R, as in the formhereinbefore described; but in addition to the wire 6 there is asecondwire 6, in series with which is placed a solenoid 9' of a second switch8, controlling the resistance R This wire 6 supplies a number oftranslating devices 13 in the same manner that the wire 6 supplies thetranslating devices 12. The arrangement is obviously such that if anyone of the setsof translating devices begins to take a considerablecurrent the resistance corresponding to that particular set oftranslating devices is cut in in multiple with the resistance R. Circuit13 is represented as working under full load conditions, the switch 8 isclosed, and the sections of resistance R and R are connected in parallelrelation. Circuit 12 is only partially loaded, the black circlesindicating that certain of the translating devices 7 are cut out ofcircuit.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

1. In a system of control for an electric motor or motors, thecombination of main and separate sources of current-supply, a controlleror controllers for the motor or motors, means electrically controlledfor actuating the controller or controllers, and a switch foroperatively connecting the separate source of supply with the saidmeans, upon the partial or total failure of the main current source.

2. In asystem of control for electric motors, the combination of aswitch or switches for changing the circuit connections of the mo tors,electric means for actuating the switch or switches, a source of supplyfor the motors and for said means, and a separate source of supply foractuating said means upon the failure of the main source of supply.

3. In a system of control for electric motors mounted on separatevehicles, the combination of a plurality of electrically-actuated devices mounted on each vehicle, a source of current-supply, a switch forcontrolling said devices located at a selected point, and a sep aratesource of supply connected in circuit with the main source of supply andthe elec trically-actuated devices in such manner that upon the partialor total failure of the main current source, it will supply current tothe electrical devices.

4. In a system of control for a plurality of separate,electrically-actuated devices, the combination of a main source ofsupply, a switch for regulating the action of said devices, a storagebattery connected to the circuit in such manner that it is being chargedfrom the main source during the normal operation of the devices, but assoon as the source of supply wholly or partially fails, will supplycurrent for operating the said devices,

and means actuated by the switch for regulating the charging of thebattery.

5. In a train system having a number of motor-cars, the combination of aplurality of pilot-motors mounted on separate cars and mechanicallycoupled to controllers for the tor, a pilot-motor mechanically connectedto 'the controller, a main source of supply for the pilot and propellingmotors, a storage battery, and a master-switch for regulating thecurrent from the main source of supply and the battery when they aresupplying current to the pilot-motors.

7. In an electric railway, the combination of a motor-controller, astorage battery which receives its charging-current from the line, andmeans actuated by the controller when it is moved to a certain position,for closing the charging-circuit of the battery.

8. In an electric railway, the combination of a motor-controller, astorage battery which receives its charging-current from the line,

means actuated by the controller, when it is moved to a certainposition, for closing the charging-circuit of the battery, and means formaintaining the charging-circuit closed until the battery has beencharged to a predetermined amount.

9. In an electric railway, the combination of a motor-controller, astorage battery which receives its charging-current from the line, meansactuated by the controller when it is moved from the off position, forclosing the charging-circuit of the battery, and means controlled by thebattery for interrupting the charging-circuit when it has been chargedto its normal degree.

10. In an electric railway, the combination of a motor-controller, astorage battery which receives its charging-current from the line, acircuit-breakeractuated by the controller, for closing thecharging-circuit of the battery, a lock for holding the circuit-breakerclosed when the charge on the battery is below normal, and a magnetconnected to the battery in such manner that when the charge on thebattery reaches a certain amount, it will release the lock.

11. In a system of train control, the combination of a plurality ofpilot-motors, each motor being located on a separate vehicle, a main andseparate source of supply on each vehicle uniting to furnish current todrive the motors on that vehicle and also to other vehicles of thetrain, and a switch for regw lating the operation of the motors.

12. In a system of distribution, the combination of a main and asecondarysource of current supply, translating devices arranged toreceive energy from one or both of the sources of supply, and means fordecreasing the resistance in circuit with one of the sources of supply,without affecting that in circuit with the other.

13. In a system of distribution, the combination of a main source ofcurrent-supply, a storage battery, translating devices arranged toreceive energy from one or both of the sources of supply, and anautomatic switch for decreasing the resistance in cir= cuit with themain source of supply, without affecting the resistance of the circuitsupplied by the battery.

14:. In a system of distribution, the combination of a main source ofcurrent-supply, a storage battery arranged to be charged from saidsource, translating devices connected to the battery and the main sourceof supply, resistances arranged in sections and connected in seriesbetween the source of supply and the battery, and contacts for cuttingthe sections into and out of circuit.

15. In a system of distribution, the combination of a main source ofcurrent-supply, a storage battery arranged to be charged from saidsource, a circuit-main which is connected to the circuit at a pointbetween the battery and the main source of supply, translating devicesconnected between the circuit-main and the negative side of thebattery,and automatic means forin creasing the current which is suppliedto the circuit-main from the main source of supply at the time the loadon the circuit increases.

16. In a system of distribution, the combination of a main and aseparate source of energy, translating devices supplied with currentfrom one or both of said sources, and a plurality of automatic switchesfor successively decreasing and increasing the resistance in circuitbetween the main source of energy and the translating devices,independent of the resistance between the separate source and thetranslating devices.

17. In a system of distribution, the combination of a main and aseparate source of energy, a plurality of separate circuits, eachsupplied from one or both of said sources, and automatic means forvarying the resistance in each of the separate circuits.

18. In a system of distribution, the combination of a storage battery, amain source of supply arranged to charge the battery, a resistance inseries with the battery, translating devices receiving current from thebattery or main source of supply or both, a circuit breaker forcontrolling the charging-circuit, and a shunt-coil for normally holdingthe breaker closed.

19. In a system of motor control, the combination of amaster-controller,a motor-controller regulated by the master-controllerfor regulating the motors, a source of supply for the in otors,anadditional source of supply for sup plying current for controlling themotor-com troller, and means for supplying the master= controller withcurrent at a lower voltage than that supplied to the motors.

20. In an electrically-propelled vehicle, a storage battery connectedacross the mains,in series with a resistance, with auxiliary translatingdevices in multiple with the battery, and automatic switches for cuttingresistance into circuit with the devices in multiple relation.

21. In a system of motor control, the combination of a propelling-motor,a controlling de vice for regulating the admission of current to themotor, and a main and an auxiliary source of current-supply, foractuating the controlling device.

22. In asystem of motor control, the combination of a propelling-motor,a controller for regulating the admission of current to the motor,- amain source of current-supply, and a storage battery which is chargedfrom the main source of supply for actuating the controlling device.

23. In a system of train control, the com bination of a plurality ofelectric motors, a plurality of controlling devices therefor, a main anda separate source of supply uniting to furnish current for actuating thecontrolling devices, and a switch for regulating the operation of thecontrolling devices.

24. In a system of motor control, the com bination of apropelling-motor, a regulator for the motor, electrical means foractuating the regulator, a storage battery, charging mains thereforreceiving their energy from any suitable source, and circuits connectedto the said electrical means and the storage battery in such manner thatboth sources of current unite to supply energy for actuating theregulator.

25. In a system of motor control, the combination of a propelling-motor,a source of supply therefor, a storage battery which is arranged toreceive its charge from the source of supply, a resistance forregulating the current supplied to the storage battery, a con trollingdevice for the propelling-motor, and electrical means for actuating thecontroller, the said means being connected between the resistance andstorage battery and the returncircuit, so that the main source of supplyand the storage battery will unite in supplying current to thecontroller-actuating means,

26. In a system of motor control, the combination of a source of supply,a storage battery, a resistance in series with the storage battery forregulating the admission of current thereto, a propelling-motor, acontroller therefor, and a pilot-motor for driving the motor-controller,which pilot-motor is connected to the circuit at a point between theresistance and the storage battery.

27. In a system of distribution, the com bination of supply-mains, astorage battery receiving energy therefrom, a resistance for regulatingthe admission of current to the battery, a circuit connected in multiplewith the storage battery, a second resistance arranged to be connectedin parallel with the first for increasing the amount of currentdelivered by the main source of supply, and contacts for opening andclosing the circuit of the second resistance.

28. In a system of distribution, the combination of a main source ofsupply, a storage battery whichis charged therefrom and is normally incircuit therewith, a resistance in series between the source of supplyand the battery, translating devices in circuit with the battery, andmeans so arranged that as the load on the battery is increased, the resistance in series with the battery is decreased.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of April,1898.

FRANK E. cAsE.

Witnesses:

B. 13. NULL, A. H. ABELL.

